Floatable, telescoping, transportable shelter

ABSTRACT

A floatable, telescoping, transportable shelter comprises an end section containing a plurality of telescoping middle sections which are pulled therefrom to form the shelter. A bulkhead provides a cover for the end section and a closure member for the last telescoped middle section. Seals for rendering the shelter water-tight are also provided. Wheels are attached to a side of the end section so that the shelter must be tipped over on its bottom in order to slide out the telescoping middle section, thereby providing easily removable wheels and imparting maximum stability to the shelter.

United States Patent [191 Daughenbaugh et al.

FLOATABLE, TELESCOPING, TRANSPORTABLE SHELTER Inventors: Raymond S.Daughenbaugh, Ojai;

Lewis B. Simon, Oxnard; Frank R. Braun, Camarillo, all of Calif.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of theNavy, Washington, DC.

Filed: Nov. 1, 1973 Appl. No.: 411,931

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1923 White 52/67 8/1952 Johnson296/23 C 51 Sept. 10, 1974 3,212,810 10/1965 Bass ..296/23C 3,628,20312/1971 Nohse ..9/1T

Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Charles E. FrankfortAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard S. Sciascia; Joseph M. St. Amand;Darrell E. Hollis [5 7] ABSTRACT A floatable, telescoping, transportableshelter comprises an end section containing a plurality of telescopingmiddle sections which are pulled therefrom to form the shelter. Abulkhead provides a cover for the end section and a closure member forthe last telescoped middle section. Seals for rendering the shelterwater-tight are also provided. Wheels are attached to a side of the endsection so that the shelter must be tipped over on its bottom in orderto slide out the telescoping middle section,-thereby providing easilyremovable wheels and imparting maximum stability to the shelter.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 FLOATABLE, TELESCOPING, TRANSPORTABLESHELTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thepresent invention relates, generally, to transportable telescopingshelters and, more specifically, to such shelters that may float whentransported and achieve maximum stability when operational.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are numerous telescoping trailers,campers, etc., mounted on wheels for easeof transportation. Elaboratesupport means must be employed as such prior art devices do not sit onthe ground. Also, maximum stability of the shelter is not achieved sincethe center of gravity of such shelter is not as close to the ground asit could be. Also, due to the heavy weight of the telescoping sections,complex and custom designed extension means must be employed. Inaddition, such shelters are limited to being transported on land. Theycannot be transported on water without having specially designed,flotation equipment attached thereto.

There exists a need fora shelter that can be unloaded from a ship,floated ashore, transported across windswept land, and there placed inoperational use. Such a shelter needs to be water-tight, lightweight,exhibit good thermal insulation properties, and have stability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The general purpose of the present invention isto provide a floatable, telescoping, transportable shelter that hasgreater stability, is easier and faster to erect, is less expensive, isless complex, is lighter, and possesses greater transporting flexibilitythan prior art transportable shelters. To attain this, the presentinvention includes an end section containing a plurality of telescopingmiddle sections which are manually pulled therefrom to form the shelter.A bulkhead provides a cover for the end section when the shelter isbeing transported and a closure member for the last telescoped middlesection when the shelter is operational. Means are provided forrendering the shelter watertight at all times. Wheels are removablyattached to a side of the end section, so that the shelter must betipped over on its bottom in order tomanually slide the telescopingmiddle sections out, thereby providing easily removable wheels andimparting maximum achievable stability to the shelter.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide afioatable shelter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a telescopingshelter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a transportableshelter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shelter havingmaximum stability.

. Another object of the present invention isto provide a shelter havinga low center of gravity.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce complexity, cost,and weight.

Another object of the present invention is to eliminate detachable,external support members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shelter capableof being transported on land and water.

Another object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for adock to unload the shelter onto from a ship.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shelter capableof easy and fast erection.

Another object of the invention is to provide transporting flexibility.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shelter that hasno loose bolts, pins, or framing members which can be lost, stolen, ormisplaced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shelter that hasgood thermal insulation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water-tightshelter when operational.

Other objects and a more complete appreciation of the present inventionand its many attendant advantages will develop as the same becomesbetter understood by reference to the following detailed descriptionwhen considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in whichlike reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figiresthereof and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of thepresent invention in land transporting configuration.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the present invention in operationalconfiguration.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing means between thetelescoping sections of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, floatable,telescoping, transportable shelter 10 is shown in collapsed form. Endsection 12, having a top 14, a bottom 16, and three sides 18, has awater-tight seal 20 at the intersections of top 14, bottom 16, and threesides 18. End section 12 also has an edge 22. Bottom 16 is physicallydisposed in a vertical plane when shelter 10 is being transported and ina horizontal plane when shelter 10 is operational (FIG. 2). End section12 forms a water-tight hull for transporting shelter 10 on water.Attached to one of three sides 18 are a pair of wheels 24. Wheels 24 areremovable. Thus, shelter 10 can be lowered into the water from a shipusing a crane, floated to shore, wheels 24 attached, and thentransported overland to a remote location.

Now referring to FIG. 2, telescoping middle sections 28, 30, and 32 areshown extended in telescopic fashion. A bulkhead 26 is attached to theopen end of middle section 32.

Bulkhead 26 serves as a closure member for shelter 10 when inoperational form and, also, as a closure member that attaches to edge 22of end section 12 when shelter 10 is being transported. Attached tobulkhead 26 are two lips (not shown). One lip fits over edge 22 toeffect a water-tight seal therewith so that shelter 10 may be floated inwater. A second lip fits over an edge of middle section 32 to effect awater-tight seal therewith.

Means for providing water-tight seals between middle sections 30 and 32,28 and 30, and between end section 12 and middle section 28 are shown inFIG. 3.

A sea] 36 slides into a lip 34 to effect a water-tight seal betweenmiddle sections 30 and 32, 28 and 30, and between end section 12 andmiddle section 28 when shelter is operational.

A gasket of resilient material (not shown) may be inserted between seal36 and lip 34 to effect a more effective water-tight seal, if desired.

Bulkhead 26 is removably hinged to end section 12, as shown in FIG. 1.

Shelter 10 may be fabricated in a wide range of sizes in preformed orbuilt-up lightweight panels using a tough fiberglass skin andlightweight insulating styrofoam or honeycomb core, or other suitablematerials well known to those skilled in the art that are watertight andprovide good thermal insulation.

Shelter 10 is transported to a location as shown in FIG. 1. Bulkhead 26is removed. End section 12 is then tipped over on bottom 16, as shown inFIG. 2. Wheels 24 may be removed at this point. Telescoping middlesections 28, 30, and 32 are pulled out of end section 12 and fullyextended, as shown in FIG. 2. Bulkhead 26 is then attached to the openend of middle section 32 thereby effecting the closure of shelter 10.Doors and windows are provided where required. By tipping shelter 10over its center of gravity assumes the lowest possible position, therebyproviding maximum stability to shelter 10. This stability is critical inharsh wind-swept environments where no adequate natural windbreaksexist.

The specific embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is erectable by two men and isready for occupancy in fifteen minutes. It can be taken down to itstransporting configuration by two men within 10 minutes. There are noloose bolts, pins, or framing members which can be lost, stolen, ormisplaced, and no tools of any kind are required for erection orrepacking.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is thereforeto be understood that within the scope of the appended claims theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein.

We claim:

1. A floatable, telescoping, transportable shelter comprising:

a. an end section having a top, a bottom, three sides, and an edge, saidbottom being physically disposed in a horizontal plane when said shelteris operational and being physically disposed in a vertical plane whensaid shelter is being transported;

b. a plurality of telescoping middle sections, each having a first and asecond edge including a last middle section, said middle sections beingcontained in said end section when said shelter is being transported,said middle sections protrude out of said end section when said shelteris operational, one said middle section being attached to said edge ofsaid end section;

0. a removable bulkhead being attached to and completely covering theopen end of said end section when said shelter is being transported andbeing attached to and completely covering the last middle section whensaid shelter is operational; and

d. a plurality of removable wheels connected to a side of said endsection whereby said shelter is easily transported over land, saidshelter being tipped over on said end sections bottom when operationalwhereby said wheels are easily removable and said shelter attainsmaximum stability.

2. The shelter of claim 1 further comprising a removable hinge connectedbetween said bulkhead and a side of said end section.

3. The shelter of claim 1 further comprising means for rendering saidshelter water-tight when being transported and when operational.

4. The shelter of claim 3 wherein said means for rendering said shelterwater-tight includes:

a. a water-tight seal formed at the intersections of said bottom, saidtop, and said three sides of said end section;

b. a plurality of seals, one each attached to said first edges of saidmiddle sections;

c. a plurality of lips, one each attached to said second edges of saidmiddle sections and to said edge of said end section in such manner thatsaid lips receive said seals when said shelter is extended foroperations such that a water-tight junction is effected therebetween;and

d. a first and second lip attached to said bulkhead, said first lipforming a water-tight seal with the end telescoping middle section, saidsecond lip forming a water-tight seal with the edge of said end section.

5. The shelter of claim 1 wherein said plurality of telescoping middlesections comprise a first middle section, a second middle section, and athird middle section.

1. A floatable, telescoping, transportable shelter comprising: a. an endsection having a top, a bottom, three sides, and an edge, said bottombeing physically disposed in a horizontal plane when said shelter isoperational and being physically disposed in a vertical plane when saidshelter is being transported; b. a plurality of telescoping middlesections, each having a first and a second edge including a last middlesection, said middle sections being contained in said end section whensaid shelter is being transported, said middle sections protrude out ofsaid end section when said shelter is operational, one said middlesection being attached to said edge of said end section; c. a removablebulkhead being attached to and completely covering the open end of saidend section when said shelter is being transported and being attached toand completely covering the last middle section when said shelter isoperational; and d. a plurality of removable wheels connected to a sideof said end section whereby said shelter is easily transported overland, said shelter being tipped over on said end section''s bottom whenoperational whereby said wheels are easily removable and said shelterattains maximum stability.
 2. The shelter of claim 1 further comprisinga removable hinge connected between said bulkhead and a side of said endsection.
 3. The shelter of claim 1 further comprising means forrendering said shelter water-tight when being transported and whenoperational.
 4. The shelter of claim 3 wherein said means for renderingsaid shelter water-tight includes: a. a water-tight seal formed at theintersections of said bottom, said top, and said three sides of said endsection; b. a plurality of seals, one each attached to said first edgesof said middle sections; c. a plurality of lips, one each attached tosaid second edges of said middle sections and to said edge of said endsection in such manner that said lips receive said seals when saidshelter is extended for operations such that a water-tight junction iseffected therebetween; and d. a first and second lip attached to saidbulkhead, said first lip forming a water-tight seal with the endtelescoping middle section, said second lip forming a water-tight sealwith the edge of said end section.
 5. The shelter of claim 1 whereinsaid plurality of telescoping middle sections comprise a first middlesection, a second middle section, and a third middle section.